Ancient Gold

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Lot 4902    Session 16 (9.30am Friday)    Ancient Gold

Estimate $2,200
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $2,100

THRACE, Kingdom of, Lysimachos, (323-281 B.C.), gold stater, (8.238 grams), Tomis mint, posthumous issue c.88-86 B.C., obv. diademed head of Alexander the Great to right, wearing horn of Ammon, rev. Athena enthroned to left, holding Nike and resting left arm on shield, transverse spear resting against right side to right, to right **BASILEWS, to left **LUSIMAC[OU], monogram **DH U* below arm, TO on throne, trident below in exergue, (cf.S.6813, AMNG 2477, cf.SNG Cop.1090, De Callatay p.141, Pl.XXXVII, Obv. dies D1/R-). Extremely fine, well centred on the obverse and virtually as struck.

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 65 (lot 1707). This lot comes from an important hoard of Greek gold staters from the time of the Mithradatic War (88-86 B.C.). They were issued by Mithradates VI of Pontus who used the design of the famous issues of Lysimachos whose staters with the head of Alexander the Great linked him to Alexander, history's greatest conqueror. At the age of 18, Mithradates embarked on a career of conquest, bringing most of the lands around the Black Sea under his control. These policies bought him into conflict with Rome and he consequently tried to liberate the East from Rome and quickly defeated the local garrisons and massacred every Roman citizen in Asia (some 80,000 in one night). Athens welcomed him as a liberator. In 87 B.C. the Consul Sulla and five legions captured Athens and pursued Mithradates back to Asia Minor. Mithradates was fined 2000 talents (600,000 gold staters) and returned to Pontus. These gold staters were probably struck during his campaign in Thrace in late 88 to early 87 B.C., to pay his mercenary soldiers. Three cities struck these coins. An alternative view has been put forward suggesting that these coins were issues of Brutus in the Civil war of 44-42 B.C. (this view was published in Celator January 2000 [pp. 22-24]).

Estimate / sale price does not include buyer's premium (currently 22% including GST) which is added to hammer price. All bids are executed on the understanding that the Terms & Conditions of sale have been read and accepted. For information on grading and estimates please refer to the Buying at Auction advice.

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Adjacent lots

  • Lot 4900  

    THRACE, Kingdom of, Lysimachus, (323-281 B.C.), gold stater, (8.524 grams), uncertain mint but probably Byzantium, ...

    Estimate $3,500

  • Lot 4901  

    THRACE, Kingdom of, Lysimachus, (323-281 B.C.), gold stater, (8.312 grams), Calchedon mint, issued 205-195 B.C., ...

    Estimate $3,800

  • Lot 4902   This lot

    THRACE, Kingdom of, Lysimachos, (323-281 B.C.), gold stater, (8.238 grams), Tomis mint, posthumous issue c.88-86 ...

    Estimate $2,200

  • Lot 4903  

    THRACE, Kingdom of, Coson, (c.42 B.C.), gold stater, (8.434 grams), Northern Greece mint, obv. three ...

    Estimate $1,400

  • Lot 4904  

    PONTUS AND BOSPORUS, Kingdom of, Sauromates, (A.D. 172-211), electrum stater, (7.710 grams), struck year 493 ...

    Estimate $1,250